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'Book Nook' columnist celebrates No. 260

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By Vick Mickunas 3:24 PM Friday, August 7, 2009

This is my 260th weekly Book Nook column — spanning 52 columns per year over five years. Actually, I only wrote 51 last year. I missed one in September when that freak windstorm knocked out my electricity.

Which means I’m a week late in writing this fifth anniversary column. Prior to my stint in print, I was at WYSO Public Radio in Yellow Springs. Some readers might recall the radio incarnation of the Book Nook.

I’m looking back at 15 years of books — at WYSO, I did more than 1,000 author interviews. And I’m still doing them for this column. Talking with writers about their work is one of my greatest joys.

I have interviewed politicians (Gary Hart, John Kasich, Barbara Boxer, George McGovern, John Glenn, Byron Dorgan and Mario Cuomo); some movie stars who are no longer with us (Peter Ustinov, Janet Leigh and Charlton Heston); astronauts (John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin and Gene Cernan); and musicians (from the Doors and the Rolling Stones to the Animals).

I have conversed with fascinating people. Some authors don’t like to discuss their work. Their creative process can be mysterious. Early on, I discovered a trick to get them to open up; I demonstrate knowledge of their work. That can lead to a real exchange.

The art of conversation survives. I want to be respectful, but sometimes questions must be asked. I spoke to Jim Lehrer and inquired about how he asks really tough questions on PBS? He said he just goes ahead and asks. So I did that. I don’t think he liked it too much though when it was being done to him.

My favorite interviewer of authors is C-Span founder and Book TV host Brian Lamb. I had a chance to interview him. I don’t think he liked being the one answering the questions, however. Interviewing can be a one-way street. Asking the questions is the fun part.

Here are a few of my favorite interview memories: Buzz Aldrin telling me what it was like to step out on to the surface of the moon. Terry Waite describing what it felt like to be held hostage in Beirut. He craved books. He would sit in the darkness and imagine that he was reading his favorite books. Janet Leigh said Alfred Hitchcock filmed her shower scene in “Psycho” with very cold water over multiple takes.

John Glenn was my longest interview. We talked for more than an hour. This childhood hero of mine told me about flying his jet into Chinese airspace in hot pursuit of an enemy plane during the Korean War. He recalled his amazing orbit around the earth in a space capsule that now seems so primitive it is hard to believe he even made it back.

Gene Cernan never thought that he would be the last man up on the moon. Fifteen years ago, Pat Conroy said that his next novel would probably be published posthumously. It is finally coming out next month. Hang in there, Pat.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for reading.

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